The next stop is membership – if members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists second the approval to the merger granted by two labor groups’ leaders, the two groups will become one. Ballots go out 2/27/12 and will be counted 3/30/12.
The boards of the two organizations released this resolution: “It was moved and seconded that the National Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Merger Task Force, approves the proposed Merger Agreement between Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and further approves the proposed SAG-AFTRA Constitution. The National Board directs that the proposed Constitution and Merger Agreement be submitted for membership approval by mailed ballot referendum, in cooperation with AFTRA. The referendum materials and ballot shall be mailed on or about February 27, 2012, with a ballot return and tabulation deadline of March 30, 2012.”
AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon stated, “I would like to congratulate the SAG National Board members on overwhelmingly approving the merger plan proposal at their meeting today, and I look forward to our discussion tomorrow at the AFTRA National Board meeting.”
Outlined in the agreement and submitted for membership approval are the “plan of merger, dues and finance structure, membership requirements, and other basic attributes of the successor union.”
